The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-28
History and Achievements of the Democratic
and Republican Parties Contrasted to
the Advantage Of the Latter.
WOrkingmen's Interests Can Be Best
Promoted by the Republican Party.
The Great Benefits Conferred Upon the People
by Republican Measures Governing the
Trade and Finances of the Country.

CINcINNATr March &c 6-Senator Shermau's
speech at Turner Hall tonight was largely de-
voted TO an argument showing that the Repub-
lican party was the party for the workingmen of
the country to rely upon, and that all third
party movements were delusive. There is a
Union Labor party here, with full ticket in
tie field for municipal affairs. and this fact gave
the key to the Senator's remarks He said:
You are sovereiens, but you cannot exer-
else the kinely power conferred upon monarch
and emperor. You must delegate to some one
your sovereignty and you do that when. by the
elections fixed from time to time you select va
rious officers for the performance of public
trust Nor YOU do this each man for HIM
self. You can only do it by organized parties,
and IN republic there never can be more than
two effective, powerful parties representing op-
posing principles. Therefore, it is2your natural
duty and inclination in Republic to form
yourselves array yourselves with one or the
other of two great political parties. We have in
this country two, and only two parties that can
attain that emnence one calling itself the Dem
ocratic party, the other calling itself the Repub
lican party.
We claim to be Republicans, and we believe
that our principles. ideas and our policy, il
carried out, will promote the interests and meet
with the approval of the greatest number of our
people. We know thas il our measures are
adopted and carried ont they cannot but do
good to all parts of our people, Republicans and
Democrats alike; but my country
men. good many men. restless probably be-
cause they don't agree in all respects with one
of these parties try to set mp another from time
to time. and there was always in the history of
our country new organizaticns sprngng into
life.
Now. let me assure you. my couutrymen that
the first effect of these separate organizations,
by whatever name they may be called, is to
n n
ment of the men who join it, the whole has
very generally proved satisfactory. To come
down now to the question intend TO discuss to-
night know there is a party organized in this
country, with whose aims and purposes have
the most profound sympathy. calling itself the
workingmsn's party. If l were to discuss the
questions aicne affecting workingmen / would
say that desire for myself lend as a Repub.
lcan speak for the REPUBLIC party) and my
party desires TO the very utmost, in every legal
and proper way, to advance the interests OF the
workngmen OF America, because they are the :
foundation on which our great structure is built
have proposition want to make TO them,
and il is my habit to speak openly and directly
to the minds and conscences of men. The
proposition wish to make is this: That they
obtain more, and do more to advance the inter
ests of the workng:nen through the Republican
organization than they can by any side-show, by
whatever name 1t may be called or under what
over leaders it may be organized lchecrs and ap
plausel, and wien come TO show You what the
Republican party has done for the woikinemen,
and what the Democratic party has not done for
the workincmen; and when | show You that
when you vote on this side issue. on which yon
don't expect to succeed. you weaken the
Republican party. and give half q vote
in favor Of the Democratic party-if
/ am able to show you that event think ]
can appeal to you not to leave the great party to
which we belong. whose battles we have fought,
but to stand nobly under its coors. with the
certainty that il any problems for your benefit
can be solved in the future il will be done by
and under this great political organization u
which we belong.
lcan party done for the workngmen of Amer
ica-and mber. my coun,rymen don't in
clude in that phrase merely those who shove the
plane, hammer and anvil, or who perform other
duties honorable in this life. useful to their
try and to themselves--I mean all those no labor
by brain or by Drawn to develop the resources
| and improve the condition of our people.
| claim myself, although l do not do physical
labor, to be laboring man. and work probably
more hours per day than any mechanic who may
now be within reach of my voice.
Now, what has been done By the Republican
party2 II was organized to beat down the most
cruel crime that Was ever committed against
| human labor. 1t is none the less crime be-
cause the laborers We're black They were
men and women, and when we came into the
great struggle at the birth cf the Republican
| party TO prevent the extension of this system of
| slavery, which naturally degraded all labor, we
| sought to prevent It's extension. Then it was
| that the mad ambition of the rulers of the save-
| holders, who held three or four millions OF
slaves, attempted to break up our government
because the people OF the United States had
| elected Abraham Lincoln President.
My friends. you NAV we'll receive the name OF
that man with applause, because he was one OF
| the best men ever knew. In all my public life
never came into contact with man wisse
heart was more gentie-gentle even as the heart
| of a loving woman and yet he ha6 all the quail
ties of statesmanship, the greatness which con-
f1a 4~fD h.. larn h..-
| the people of the United States elected Ahra-
| ham Lincoln, these people end-avored to break
| up our government and then you and men like
| you, your fathers. took up arms, no. 10 tram.
| ple on the rights Of others, Int to maintain the
! Union of our fathers and preserve the liberties
| of our people.
! Who conducted that war' Who marshaed
these armies2 What organization raised thou
| sands of men and millions of money necessary
| for the conduct of that war2 1t was the Repuh-
| lican party of the United States. Thousands Of
/ Democrats went into the movement patriotic
| men and good. and God forbid should utter q
word against them but the Democratic party
| from the beginning to the ending of tha. strife,
| was disioyal TO the country.
| The Democrats down South went into the
rebel army, and the patriotic element of tho
/ Democratic party of the North went into the
/ Union army. The organization of that partY
| during the war did all they could TO cripple the
! operations of the Union army, to defeat
| the gallant Democrats who fought sidc by SIDE
1 with their Republican allies.
/ recall that in '63 they almost overthrow the
| Union cause. and placed in nomination q man
! who endeavored 10 incite riot in tho State Of
] Ohio They nominated that man for Governor,
! but thanks be to the patriotism of onr Demo-
cratic friends and neiehbors, he was beaten by
a majority Of one hundred Thousand. In GA that
/ Democratic organization. which is still strong
and powerful in our midst. placed in nomina-
| tion Ohioan. also in the war, General Mo-
Clellan, bat they placed him on platform
| which declared the failure, demanded
peace on any terms and if the Democratic party
| had been then placed in power General Sher.
| man would have been recalled from his march
| to the sea. and Grant would have been com-
| PEELED to Withdraw from Petersburg and Rich-
J mond, and the war Mou.d have ended IN numls